Markets surge in wake of bail-outs
A co-ordinated international effort to kick-start the crippled economy appeared to pay off yesterday, when stock markets surged and share prices rose for a second day. World shares - seemingly in freefall last week - made their biggest one-day advance for 19 years. Asian markets rallied yesterday; a... [continued]
US adopts British-style bail-out
The US is to adopt British-style plans to take a stake in nine of America's biggest banks. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is expected to unveil a $250bn rescue plan later today. Half of this money, which will come from the $700bn bailout approved by Congress, will be pumped into nine...[continued]
Lords reject 42-day plan by 91 votes
The Government has conceded defeat over its controversial 42-day detention bill, after the House of Lords overwhelmingly rejected it by 309 votes to 118. In an emergency Commons statement following the vote, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said that the provision, which would give police 42 days to question terrorism suspects,... [continued]
Inflation hits 5.2% in 16-year high
Inflation broke the five per cent barrier last month, unexpectedly soaring to 5.2 per cent, the highest inflation for 16 years. Rising food and energy prices combined with the falling value of the pound are blamed for much of the hike within the consumer prices index (CPI). Analysts had expected...[continued]
Khmer Rouge men jailed for killings
Four former members of the Khmer Rouge have been jailed for the murder and kidnapping of a Britin mine-clearing expert and his interpreter 12 years ago in Cambodia. A Phnom Penh court jailed three of the men for 20 years and a fourth for 10 years, while a fifth defendant... [continued]
Amnesty attacks Saudi executions
Poor foreign workers are paying the ultimate price when accused of capital crimes in Saudi Arabia, with around half of those executed in the past two decades foreign nationals. An investigation by Amnesty International into the country's secretive death penalty system found that a Saudi citizen is up to eight... [continued]
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